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Joseph Jefferson II (1804 - 1842)

Joseph Jefferson II
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and [mother unknown]
Husband of — married 27 Jul 1826 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County Pennsylvania, USAmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 38 in Mobile, Alabama, USAmap
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sunny Clark private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 14 Mar 2017
This page has been accessed 526 times.

Biography

Notables Project
Joseph Jefferson II is Notable.

"We arrived at Mobile in October, 1842. The yellow fever was raging in the town, but we were forced to come before the rest of the company, as my father was the scenic artist as well as the comedian of the theater, and his presence was required at an early date as the scenery needed repainting.

We had for years been traveling about the country, and my father and mother congratulated themselves upon this present permanent situation, as it afforded them not only rest, but an opportunity of sending my sister and myself to school. Sadly enough, the last desire of this hopeful man was shattered, for two weeks after our arrival he was stricken with yellow fever, and died on the 24th of November, 1842. I will not describe the effect of this awful blow on our family, not desiring to cloud the narrative of my life with the relation of domestic sorrow. It is sufficient to say that by this sad event we were deprived of a dear friend upon whom we depended for counsel and support.

My sister and myself were now engaged at the theater to act such children's parts as our size and talent warranted the manager in casting us in; appearing in fancy dances and comic duets, added to which I was to grind colors in the paint-room, — assistant artist, I was called in the play-bill, — and make myself generally useful, for which services we were each to receive six dollars a week. It was understood that this employment was given to us as a charity ; but when I consider the numerous duties imposed upon us, and the small sum we received, my conscience acquits me of our being anything like an incubus upon the theater, and if there was any charity in the matter, I think it was on our side." [1]

Sources

  1. "The Autobiography of Joseph Jefferson', by Jefferson, Joseph; John Davis Batchelder Collection (Library of Congress); T. Fisher Unwin; The Century co; New York, 1890, pp.36-37."

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Comments: 3

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Please check the birth and death dates. Currently, Joseph II and his son, Joseph III are both listed as being born in 1829 which is incorrect. For other possible dates, see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102064379/joseph-jefferson and other relatives.
posted by Russell Butler
please feel free to add sources, and to simply correct typos and obvious errors.
posted by Sunny (Trimbee) Clark
Thanks. I also added his sister. FYI - On his sister's profile, I added a research note about a possible mother.
posted by Russell Butler
edited by Russell Butler